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Category: Weekday Homilies

  • Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    Be welcoming, God’s grace and mercy is without borders

    August 7, 2019 – Wednesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28)

    At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
    And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
    “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
    My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
    But he did not say a word in answer to her.
    His disciples came and asked him,
    “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
    He said in reply,
    “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
    But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
    He said in reply,
    “It is not right to take the food of the children
    and throw it to the dogs.”
    She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
    that fall from the table of their masters.”
    Then Jesus said to her in reply,
    “O woman, great is your faith!
    Let it be done for you as you wish.”
    And her daughter was healed from that hour.

    HOMILY

    Have you ever been insulted, discriminated and rejected by the people whom you thought would help you and show you mercy?

    Certainly, we would feel hurt, broken-hearted, ashamed or even angered. I expected such feelings also from the Canaanite woman  who approached Jesus. And he seemingly gave a cold and harsh treatment towards her. However, the persistence of the woman and Jesus’ indirect teaching to his disciples make the story more interesting. Let us see a bit deeper, then, the Gospel today.

    This Gospel story tells us that Jesus with his disciples withdrew to Tyre and Sidon, a region of the Gentiles. Gentiles were considered by the Jews at that time to be unclean. However, Jesus went there on purpose to teach something to his disciples.

    That purpose of Jesus culminated in the appearance of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter. The woman, as a gentile was considered like a dog to the Jews. Even though Jesus reminded her of this discrimination from the Jews, the woman did not lose any courage and faith to approach Jesus. The woman believed that though she was undeserving of God’s mercy, but she asked for it anyway not for herself but for her sick daughter.

    This was what Jesus wanted to teach to his disciples that God’s mercy is beyond race, culture or even religious tradition. By going to that region, Jesus made a statement. By healing the daughter of that woman, Jesus broke down the cultural and religious barriers that prevent people from reaching out. Jesus tore down the walls of indifference and lack of compassion.

     This is what the Lord is inviting us to reflect today. Just like his disciples, we are called to expand our perspective and understanding of God’s mercy. God is no doubt not limited to few people or selected and favored people. Our God is God of everyone regardless of belief, culture, background or history. God’s grace and mercy is without borders.

    Now, you and me who believed in Jesus as Lord and savior are called to be like him. We are, therefore, called to widen our circle of friends, to include those even outside our family, relatives and old friends. We are called to reach out to others, to be more welcoming and accommodating of people in need even if we are different, even if we come from different regions, or religion, or race or dialect, or status and position in life.

    This calls us too to be true to our Catholic identity, and that is to be universal and inclusive in the way we deal and relate with people, showing kindness and mercy.

    Yes, we are called to build bridges rather than walls, to extend our hands rather than closing our doors, to open our eyes rather than pretending not to see.

    Thus, as we would all go home (or go back to your office and workplace, or school), I would like to ask you to recognize those people who need a welcoming presence and accommodating heart. Extend our generosity to them so that we may able to bring the Lord closer to them. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • It is through prayer and listening that we allow God to transform us

    It is through prayer and listening that we allow God to transform us

    August 6, 2019 – Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus

    From the Gospel of Luke (9:28b-36)

    Jesus took Peter, John, and James 
    and went up a mountain to pray.
    While he was praying his face changed in appearance 
    and his clothing became dazzling white.
    And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 
    who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus 
    that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
    Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, 
    but becoming fully awake, 
    they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
    As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, 
    “Master, it is good that we are here;
    let us make three tents,
    one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
    But he did not know what he was saying.
    While he was still speaking, 
    a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
    and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
    Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
    “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
    After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
    They fell silent and did not at that time 
    tell anyone what they had seen.

    HOMILY

    In the biblical tradition, mountains were known to be sacred places where one can encounter the divine or feel the presence of the Lord. In the time of Jesus, this belief was very strong and thus, the gospels would tell us how Jesus spent his time despite his hectic schedule in teaching and healing the sick just to go up to the mountain to “pray.” Yes, Jesus would go up to the mountain to pray, to commune with God, to relate with God more intimately. Mountains became a powerful symbol of the divine, of an encounter with God. This is a tradition handed down to us as we would usually find our retreat houses on the mountaintops. Because of our experiences of being there to encounter the divine, we are renewed and refreshed, energized and strengthened in responding to what God is inviting us to do as Christians.

    Indeed, this is the very experience of Jesus and his three disciples – Peter, James and John. That experience on the mountain was in fact an extraordinary experience. What had been revealed to the disciples was the “transfiguration” of Jesus. The face of Jesus was changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. The three of them were more surprised when a cloud, a symbol of a holy presence, covered them. They were more terrified by that event. Only later that realization came, that that experience was a holy and privileged one. It was a glimpse of the true identity of Jesus as true God and a preview of his glorious resurrection.

    But one could wonder, why would Jesus allow the three to see in advance or have a foretaste of the glorious resurrection? The voice that came from the clouds would tell us something. That mysterious voice says, “This is my chosen son; listen to him.”

    That voice tells the three that Jesus is indeed the chosen one, he is the Christ, the Messiah that they have been waiting for – the BELOVED ONE to whom they should LISTEN! The disciples are told to LISTEN to Jesus and to follow him in this life. They are told to listen to the life that Jesus will show them and that life entails struggles, suffering, pain and even death but there will be also joy, happiness, and peace in the glorious resurrection.

    And indeed, as they listened and followed Jesus, these fishermen turned into fishers of men. From being fearful and doubtful followers of Jesus they have become dedicated apostles and preachers of the Gospel. By listening to the Lord, they were transformed and converted into new persons.

    THIS IS NOW THE MESSAGE, THE CALL THAT IS BEING OFFERED TO US – that each of us and as a community we are called to JOURNEY WITH GOD. And by journeying with God, it is very essential that WE LISTEN TO GOD, in listening to his Word. God is telling us now, “Hey, listen to me and be my herald of the good news, be my gossiper of the gospel to others!”

    We are able to do that when we truly learn how to “pray and listen.” Remember, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray and through prayer he was transfigured. The disciples too where praying and it was through their prayer that they were made aware of that mysterious event in their lives. So it means that we too, are called to “pray and to listen,” to commune with God and to relate with God more intimately through our prayer. It is only when we become reflective and prayerful that we also become aware of the people around us. We become more connected with God and with others.

    Transfiguration becomes a reality in us when we see and recognize the face of God in our brothers and sisters, when we learn and take the courage to watch out for those who feel unrecognized, to give a room for the stranger, to listen to those who are troubled and hear the cry of those who are desperate in life, to walk with those who are afraid and those whose hearts are broken and to give a helping hand to those who stumbled. Through these, we become a community centered on the Eucharist that is welcoming, embracing, loving and forgiving that may hopefully move to gradually transform ourselves into the way God wants us to be. Hinaut pa!

  • Never ignore what is familiar and ordinary because God reveals His grace to us in there

    Never ignore what is familiar and ordinary because God reveals His grace to us in there

    August 2, 2019 – Friday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    From the Gospel according to Matthew (13:54-58)

    Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
    They were astonished and said,
    “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
    Is he not the carpenter’s son?
    Is not his mother named Mary
    and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
    Are not his sisters all with us?
    Where did this man get all this?”
    And they took offense at him.
    But Jesus said to them,
    “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
    and in his own house.”
    And he did not work many mighty deeds there
    because of their lack of faith.

    Homily

    Have you experienced being judged by friends of family members because of your past sins, weaknesses or failures and because you are just too familiar and ordinary for them? Or have you ever judged others too because of their past sins and failures and because they also are very familiar and ordinary to you?

    When I was in high school, I had this classmate who appeared to be always untidy, late and worst would usually fail his exams. Yet, when we moved up to a higher year, there was something that surprised the class about him. Though he still looked untidy and sometimes came late, but, his exams got higher and better results. Every time he passed an exam, we were bitter. Everyone suspected him that he cheated. Most of us couldn’t believe that he had the potential. Others became angry and felt bad whenever he got a higher score than those who usually got high scores.

    Indeed, most of us judged him that he did not have the capacity. We judged him of his past behavior and of his failures. Thus, we have failed to recognize that he had actually that capacity. We refused to believe in him because we felt insecure of his capacities and potentials.

    Though Jesus never failed and sinned, yet, such judgment and bitterness are not far from the experience of Jesus. When Jesus went home to Nazareth, he was treated badly by his own people. The good news that he preached and God’s power that he revealed to his neighbors were treated with cruelty and insecurity.

    When Jesus stood in their midst, the people merely saw a carpenter and an ordinary man who once played and worked with them. The people limited Jesus by what he was used to do, in doing carpentry, nothing more and nothing less. They couldn’t accept that there was actually MORE in Jesus.

    This is very similar with our judgment to that classmate of mine. For many of us, he was just a lazy boy, untidy classmate, not capable of anything except in failing his exams. We too could not accept that there was MORE in him.

    Thus, instead of welcoming the power and wisdom that Jesus shared with grace and faith, the people refused to accept because of their insecurities and bitterness. They rejected Jesus because they could not accept that this ordinary carpenter brings God’s presence to them. They questioned him, “Who is this man? Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?”

    The too-ordinary life of Jesus prevented them to welcome him as God’s revelation to them. Resentment and hate overwhelmed the people which made their hearts, unbelieving. This was the reason why Jesus was not able to perform mighty deeds for them because God’s grace will only work when it is received with faith. Jesus is after all, not a magician who will attract people’s attention for a short span of time. Jesus reveals God’s presence and power through ordinary means.

    And this is not far from our own experiences too. Many times we reject what is ordinary and familiar to us. We ignore God’s grace and invitation to us because we are busy looking for extra-ordinary things, for a magic to appear. That instead of recognizing God’s power in an ordinary sunrise and sunset, we busy ourselves looking for a “dancing sun” or “falling petals from heaven.” Thus, we refuse to believe that there is MORE in the ordinary.

    Miracles happen every day in its most ordinary way. God’s grace is being unfolded even in our everyday experiences. God’s healing power is also revealed to us through our familiar sacraments in the church and through the embrace of people who love us like your parents, siblings, relatives and friends.

    This is the invitation now for us today – that is, to make ourselves more aware of God’s work even in the most ordinary way, to recognize God even among the familiar people, places and events. When we are able to learn this kind of awareness, then, we too shall discover the wonders that God gives us every day, and we shall realize that there is MORE in every ordinary experience, and in every ordinary and familiar person we meet.

    This calls us not to judge quickly to what is familiar and to what is seemingly ordinary, but, to be more welcoming of God’s grace. This reminds us now to be more open to the many potentials of those people who are familiar to us, and not to limit them to their past failures and sins. This calls us too to recognize how God unfolds his grace and his gift of healing through those people who love us. This calls us also to listen to God’s message and invitation through our present situation and through the people who might be God’s prophet today even though they look so familiar and ordinary for us, because there is always more that God offers to us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Seeking one’s happiness is seeking God

    Seeking one’s happiness is seeking God

    August 1, 2019 – Thursday: Solemnity of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

    From the Book of Prophet Isaiah (61:1-3)

    The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion – To give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

    Responsorial Psalm : Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (9:35-10:1)

    Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When se saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but he laborers are few; Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

    Homily

    Who among us here who is not seeking one’s happiness? I am sure each of us desires it. However, we may be prevented by many things especially when expectations from our families and friends are different from what we truly desire. People around us may have something in mind for us, believing that what they think is better for us. Yet, this is not always the case. That is why, there would be individuals whose lives become miserable because they have to follow the desires from others for them.

    This reminds me of the life of Alphonsus whose feast we celebrate today. That is why, as a Redemptorist priest myself, I also wonder of the kind of life Alphonsus had when he was young and what led him to affirm his vocation by giving his life for the poor and the most abandoned.

    Alphonsus came from an aristocratic family in Naples, Italy. As the eldest in the family, his father had so much expectations from him. At an early age he had many books on his hands instead of toys. He must have been deprived of playing with other children because as an aristocrat, he needed to receive instructions from various teachers. He was indeed an exceptional boy who even finished his studies in both civil and ecclesiastical laws at the age of 16. In his twenties, he was already a known lawyer in Naples. Not just that, he also excelled in arts and music and authored many books.

    With all these things on him, Alphonsus had felt so much pressure from the family and particularly from his father. His father expected him to succeed and follow him as what had been practiced in their family. His relatives and the whole clan had surely expected him also to follow the footsteps of his father as an aristocrat. This was the reason why that at an early age he was expected to follow whatever was told to him. Alphonsus was very careful to follow everything and not to commit any mistake.

    At that time, any mistake will go unpunished. We could imagine how Alphonsus had to endure the corporal punishments and the shame, every time he would commit a mistake or a failure. This kind of upbringing had actually a deep influence on the spiritual life of Alphonsus. He was a very scrupulous man. Alphonsus was very afraid of hell and of eternal damnation. He was indeed very careful not to sin and not to commit any mistake because he believed that God would not be able to forgive him.

    Being scrupulous prevented him actually to be free from shame. He was always haunted by guilt too. Now, we understand how family pressures and his severe upbringing affected his relationship with God. At his lifetime, he struggled to believe that God could forgive him. No matter how small was the mistake or the sin he committed, he would go anxious and worried.

    However, there was something in Alphonsus that really desired freedom, to be free from pressures, from shame and guilt, and from that severe childhood upbringing. Deep within, Alphonsus desired to express what he really wanted. He searched ways were he could truly express his true self without any pressure or expectation from others. Alphonsus was searching to what would really give meaning and true happiness in his life. This was the reason why he excelled in many things but most importantly with his encounter with the common people.

    It was with the patients at the House of Incurables, the prostitutes in Naples, the men and women in the marketplace and later on with the people in a remote area of Scala, that he found himself, and found God more alive.

    This was the beginning of the continual conversion of Alphonsus. By becoming more in touched with his struggles and questions, he too became more aware of God’s desire for him more than the pressure of the people’s desire around him. Hence, Alphonsus gave up his profession and his status as an aristocrat by becoming a poor priest. With this decision, it greatly upset and broke the heart of his father to the point of disowning Alphonsus as his son.

    However, God’s desire for Alphonsus cannot be prevented by anybody. God has so much plan for Alphonsus. And for Alphonsus, he willingly sought God’s desire and he found it among the people. This was where Alphonsus also found how good God is to him. He realized how God loved him so much despite his imperfections and weaknesses.

    Our Psalm today proclaims to us, “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” Alphonsus was indeed singing the Lord’s goodness not just expressed in his paintings, music and writings but also in his person, in the way he related with people. And this happiness in Alphonsus touched many men and women including his father. Later on, his father discovered too how God worked in the life of his son and that God has a bigger and better plan for Alphonsus than him.

    Despite the deprivation he had and the strict upbringing in his childhood, he did not become a bitter person but rather, his negative experience allowed him to become understanding and generous to those who were deprived with many things in their life. Consequently, Alphonsus affirmed that the spirit of the Lord is upon him because the Lord anointed him and chose him.

    Today, on this feast day of Alphonsus, the Lord is also inviting each of us to continually seek our own happiness, and in seeking it, we will surely be able to seek God with all our heart because seeking one’s happiness is seeking God.

    Let us allow the Lord then, to unfold before us his desire for us by being open and welcoming to his invitations to change and to be converted in his ways and thinking. And may our encounter with people will allow us to affirm God’s desire for us whatever that may be, in bringing happiness, joy and peace not just to ourselves but also to people around us. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Are you also searching something of great value?

    Are you also searching something of great value?

    July 31, 2019 – Wednesday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

    Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

    From the Book of Exodus (34:29-35)

    As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
    with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
    he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
    while he conversed with the LORD.
    When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
    and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
    they were afraid to come near him.
    Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
    and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
    Moses then spoke to them.
    Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
    and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
    had told him on Mount Sinai.
    When he finished speaking with them,
    he put a veil over his face.
    Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
    he removed the veil until he came out again.
    On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
    all that had been commanded.
    Then the children of Israel would see
    that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
    so he would again put the veil over his face
    until he went in to converse with the LORD.

    From the Gospel of Matthew (13:44-46)

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
    which a person finds and hides again,
    and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
    Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
    searching for fine pearls.
    When he finds a pearl of great price,
    he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

    Homily

    Why do people work so hard? Is it not because of the dream to be contented and happy? Why do men and women search for a true love? Is not also because of the hope of being happy in life? Why do we search for what makes us happy? Is it not because that we are designed to be happy?

    Undeniably, we are in search of something that will make our life happy and joyful. Each of us would dream that kind of life. However, in the process of searching, we also encounter failures and disappointments. Yet, we always wake up to achieve what we desire for our life. Our instinct is to search and gain a life of happiness and peace and joy not just for ourselves alone but also for the people whom we love.

    Our Gospel today presents to us two parables that tell us about this desire of finding and possessing something of great value in life. This is something that a person who would do everything just to attain this something of great value.

    The first parable tells us of the grace of God that surprises us. The person was actually not conscious in searching for a treasure. However, the person just found it and later on did everything just to possess it because he was convinced that it was of great importance. He was willing to sell everything he has just to gain that treasure. Certainly, God also loves to surprise us. Joy is truly a gift given to us.

    The second parable tells us of a person consciously searching for a pearl of great price. This search comes from that desire to have a blessed life of peace and joy. Indeed, along the way of our search, great difficulty may be experienced. However, God also leads us to discover His gift for us when we persistently ask for that. God would truly bless a heart that desires Him.

    And when a person finally finds his or her joy in life, this transforms the person not just internally but also physically especially in the way the person relates with others and the way the person presents himself or herself before others. This is what we have heard from our first reading.

    Moses who found his greatest comfort and joy with the Lord was transformed. The Book of Exodus described him that the “skin of his face became radiant.” Moses’ intimate friendship with God made him a different person from before. He was God’s close friend. Consequently, this made Moses also ever closer to the people. Moses became more sensitive to the struggles, questions, fears and anxieties of the people.

    This tells us too that when we truly find our greatest joy in life, we become contented and grateful persons. We would begin to look at things and look at life from the perspective of God rather than from our negative and bitter perspective. In a way, this makes our hearts radiate, our actions generous and words kind.

    Certainly, a married person who truly finds contentment, security and joy in his or her married life extends such grace towards the people around him or her. A person who finally finds his or her vocation in life also becomes more generous and life-giving towards others.

    Such attitude can also be found in the life of St. Ignatius de Loyola, a Spanish soldier and founder of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was a man in search of great value in life. Along the way of his search, he was confronted by his own sinfulness and failures. He was opposed by others around him who suspected him for being a heretic or a person who desecrated the holiness of God. However, Ignatius persistently search for what will make him joyful until he found his broken and wounded self yet so loved and cherished by the Lord. This was the way also that he realized God working in his life and thus found God’s presence as the greatest value in his life, more than his riches, more than his achievements and successes and more than his sins and guilt. This transformed him to be a generous person.

    We pray that in our search of that great value, then, we would hopefully also arrive at the realization that God’s desire for us is more than anything that we could imagine for ourselves. And once we find it, may the joy and peace that it brings will transform us to become a person God wants us to be like Moses and Ignatius. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR